Evaluating the impact of higher education on income poverty in South Africa
In South Africa, primary and secondary education is widely accessible to all individuals, thanks to the South African Schools Act of 1996 (Act No. 84 of 1996), which established education as a fundamental right for everyone and made it compulsory for children aged 7 to 14 years. However, higher education (HE) attainment remains notably low, South African statistics reveal a significant gap, with only 19.8% of individuals aged 25-29 having tertiary education (DHET, 2023, p.25). Yet, the acquisition of higher education may be the most effective antipoverty mechanism among South Africa. This study investigates the impact of higher education on income poverty in South Africa. To conduct this analysis, we utilized data from the National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS) spanning from Wave 1 to Wave 5.
Higher Education, Fixed effect model, Income poverty, NSFAS, National Income Dynamics Survey
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